Improvement in sample-cases



C. FOLSOM. Sam'ple-Case.'

.v Patented July 29,1879.`

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N.PEFERS. PQJTO-LWHOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON, D c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIGE CHARLES FOLSOM, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN SAM PLE-CASES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 217,933, dated July 29,1879; application filed May 27, 1879.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES FoLsoM, of New York city, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Show, Packing, or Sample Cases,of which the following is a specication.

My invention -aims to provide a casemore particularly adapted forthepackage, display, and sale of such small varied goods aspocketcutlery, buttons, fancy-goods, &c., in which the manufacturer orwholesale dealer may put up the same for sale to the small dealer insuch manner that the advantage of a variety of goods without muchquantity in the same case or package shall be obtained, and which willat the same time present the goods, with their prices and samples, in anattractive and convenient manner.

To this end the main feature of my invention may be stated to consist ina show, packing, or sample case having 'its interior formed in a seriesof compartments adapted for different goods, and having its lid or coverformed in a number of segmental parallel lids or covers corresponding tothe compartments or lines of compartments, the said segmental lids beingso hinged and arranged as to fold down on its own compartment or foldback over the next compartment, so that, samples being attached to theunder side of the lid, and pricemarks to the top of the lid of the nextcompartment, by turning over any lid, the goods contained in thecompartment, the samples, and the price-marks thereof are displayed at aglance in contiguous parallel positions.

The invention also embodies minor features of construction, ashereinafter set forth.

In the annexed drawings, Figure l presents a plan view of my improvedpacking-case, and Fig. 2 a section thereof on w The case is made,preferably, of strong paper-board; but other suitable material may beadopted.

a indicates the containing-body of the case, and b the top or cover.This containing-body l prefer to form as a shallow tray or box-body, andthe cover as an ordinary box-cover, with pendent sides or rim to fitover the same like a .common box-lid; but the cover or lid of the casemay be xed rigidly to the containingbody. The interior of the body a isdivided by transverse and longitudinal partitions into a number of cellsor compartments, preferably of rectangular form, and preferably arrangedin transverse parallel lines, as shown, preferably two or more cellsbeing in the same line, as shown.

Now, the top or cover of the case b has openings or lines of openingsformed through it corresponding to the compartments or lilies ofcompartments in the body, so as to render the same accessible, and thesaid top is also fitted with a series of small or segmental lids, d d,arranged parallel with each other, and corresponding to the lines ofcompartments, as shown. or cover, about midway of the narrowpartitionstrip separating the lines of compartments, as shown best inFig. 2, in such manner as to fold down and cover their own compartment,or to fold back over the next compartment, as shown,respectivcly, on theright and left of the figures.

rlhe several qualities or varieties of goods which are to be packedinthe case are deposited thereon, each in its own distinct compartment,the samples thereof are attached to the under side of the lid of thecompartment containing like kind, While the top of the lid of the nextcompartment receives a ticket or mark containing the price of the goodsor other remarks concerning them, as illustrated.

To carry out this arrangement over the whole case, it will be seen thatan extra lid or flap, d', at one end of the case receives the pricemarkfor the compartment at that end, while the last compartment at theopposite end of the case forms a dead space, which is permanentlycovered by a fixed part of the top, as shown best in Fig. 2.

It will now be readily seen that manufacturers or wholesale dealers maypack or put up their goods, in the manner described, in packages orcases of this kind with considerable advantage, for a small package maythus contain quite a variety without much quantity, and be thus bettersuited to the small dealer, while the goods are, at the same time,presented in the most convenient, attractive, and salable manner. Thuswhen the compartmental lids of the case are thrown back the samples of avariety of goods are thus exposed These lids are each hinged to the topat once, presenting an attractive appearance, while the goods areprotected from undue exposure, and when the case or package is placed onthe counter or in the glass show-case the purchaser can readily selector indicate the quality or variety of goods desired, when by turningdown the lid next to the samples selected the prices of goods on the topside of the said lid are exposed, and the goods in the compartments arerendered accessible and may be removed as required, While the samplesyet remain in view for comparison, the prices, goods, and samples beingthus displayed at once in contiguous parallel lines, as seen at thecenter of Figs. 1 and 2.

To facilitate the attachment of the samples to the under sides of thelids, a minor feature of my invention consists in forming the lids witha series of holes or openings punched through the same, and continued atuniform intervals of about half an inch over the Whole extent of thelid, or on the lines Where the samples are attached, as shown at c inFig. 1, these holes being concealed by a thin covering of ornamentalcloth or paper, j", to give a 'inished appearance to the lid. It willthus be easy to puncture the thin covering at the proper holes throughthe lid, so as to admit the passage of a small fastening or string tosecure the samples in place'without mutilatin g or seriously injuringthe appearance of the lid.

Another feature consists in an adjustable elastic cord for securing thesamples in posi` tion, as shown at g, which is passed in a series ofloops through the punctures of the lid, as shown, the loops holding thesample, while the ends of the cords are, preferably, knotted and held bythe Washers h 71 lso that the ends of the cords may thus be let in orout to tighten or loosen the same, and be thus adjusted` to properlyhold thefsample, or may be passed through the holes of the lid in loopsof more or less number, according to the number and size of the samples,as will be understood.

It will be readily seen that the divided boxbody1 a may sometimes besubstituted by a series of small separate boxes fitting together andforming compartments, the cover being arranged to iit down over andinclose the same, which forms a simple equivalent for the single dividedbox; and it will be seen that the main novelty of my invention 'lies inthe described form of box-cover, with its several compartmental lids,adapted for use with a compartmental box-body or cluster of small boxes,in the manner described. Y c

What I claim as my invention is- 1. A packing or show case formed of acontaining boxbody divided int-o a series of compartments, or itsequivalent, with a top or cover formed with openings corresponding tosaid compartments, -and with a series of lids hinged at thepartition-line of the said compartments, and arranged to fold down onits own compartment or back over the next compartment, whereby samplesattached to the under 'side of the lids and price-marks on the topsofthe next lids, together With'the goods in the compartment, may beexposed at once in contiguous parallel lines when one ot' the lids isturned over or down, substantially as herein shown and described. v

2. A packing, sample, or show case lid formed with a continued series ofperforations extending through the same, and covered or concealed by athin penetrable surface, covering, or fabric, substantially as and forthe purpose herein set forth.

CHARLES FOLSOM.

Witnesses:

(l1-ms. M. HIGGINS, S. H. WALES.

